Simple and green are the words of the day for this wonderful theme. I like the combination of soft green, white and grey and the cool icons. Even the close, minimize, maximize buttons look simple but effective. It might be beneficial to add a cool looking wallpaper for this Vista theme but otherwise this design is a perfect 10.

Are you still using Windows XP? If you are then visit our FAQ page to download our XP Theme Patcher. If you’re using Windows Vista, you don’t need the Theme Patcher.

Title: Base
Author: jg-visuals
Download: Vista Base Theme

This is a nice unique theme with an awesome redesigned windows. I really like the colorful circle start orb and the butterfly button on the all the windows. I think adding the different colors like black and white really makes this Vista theme stand out. The background is a little boring but that can be changed easily.

Are you still using Windows XP? If you are then visit our FAQ page to download our XP Theme Patcher. If you’re using Windows Vista, you don’t need the Theme Patcher.

Title: Terminal
Author: Nittiyh
Download: Vista Terminal Theme

• [ Kill the Process, Use Killbox if your Access Denied ]

[In Windows Vista Run As Administrator, After Execution System Will Restart]

• %Program Files\Common Files\System\vss_mmcs.dll
• %Program Files\Common Files\System\Yahoo_Desktop_PreLoad.exe
• %Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Ati Desk PreLoad.exe
  [ No Exact Information about Files, search above related files in Program files Folder ]
  If you have any of these files in running process from task manger, end the process before removal.
  Note: if task manager is disabled, Download the following file, Click to Download - Enable Registry.reg [ Right Click - Save Target As/Linked Content As ]
  Open it with Regedit.exe [%system32\regedit.exe], then it Confirms Add to registry Yes or No, Confirm Yes, then click Ok.

Microsoft recently made available the second Service Pack for its flagship desktop operating system Windows Vista. I recently restored my Windows Vista SP1 Complete PC Backup image and decided to update it to SP2 and find out what’s new. With the release of Windows NT SP3, Microsoft had defined service packs as a collection of updates for a Windows operating system that were rolled into one file post RTM that made it easier for IT Professionals to update their systems without having to download all the updates individually on each system. With the release of Windows Vista, the definition of Service Pack was updated with a different meaning:

A software update that combines new security and performance enhancements with existing updates. Unlike update rollups, service packs can contain new features or design changes for a product.

Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit with Service Pack 2 installed.

Before updating to Windows Vista SP2, I had to install a pre-requisite file KB955430. The purpose of this file is to assist with the performance of the Service Pack 2 installation which can take some time. After installing the update you can proceed with the installation of the Service Pack itself. My install was done through the Standalone installer for Windows Vista SP1 64-bit. Because some persons might have band width issues, Microsoft provides a (Five language package) full copy of the Service Pack, which weighs in at about 577 MB's for 64 bit and 348 MB's for 32 bit. If you are on a fast connection and regularly receive Windows Updates, you probably have the KB955430 file already installed and Vista SP2 will be presented you as a 56 MB update.

Installing the pre-requisite update

Note: You must have Service Pack 1 for Vista already installed before updating to SP2. The reason for this change in servicing relates to size constraints that would make it impractical to combine both SP1 and SP2, making it a chore to download. Vista SP2 contains post SP1 updates (meaning all Windows Updates that have been released after SP1).

Installing Service Pack 2

Always remember to create a system restore point before installing critical software such as SP2 that will make significant changes to the operating system. According to the Service Pack wizard, installation will take an hour or more. Your computer will restart several times during the installation. I must say, it’s an uneventful experience that does not require much of your time and you can leave your PC while it updates. The installation took approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes for me.

Whats new in Vista SP2?

• Spysweeper and ZoneAlarm, now work with POP3 e-mail accounts

Hardware ecosystem support and enhancements

• SP2 adds support for the 64-bit central processing unit (CPU) from VIA Technologies, which adds the ID and vendor strings for the new VIA 64-bit CPU.
• SP2 integrates the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, which contains support for Bluetooth v2.1 and Windows Connect Now (WCN) Wi-Fi Configuration. Bluetooth v2.1 is the most recent specification for Bluetooth wireless technology.
• SP2 improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode.
• SP2 includes updates to the RSS feeds sidebar for improved performance and responsiveness.
• SP2 includes ability to record data to Blu-Ray Disc media.

Operating system experience updates

• SP2 includes Windows Search 4.0, which builds on Microsoft’s search technology with improved indexing and search relevance. It also helps find and preview documents, e-mail (including signed e-mail messages), music files, photos, and other items on the computer. The search engine in Windows Search 4.0 is a Microsoft Windows service that is also used by programs such as Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and Microsoft Office OneNote 2007. Autotuning Diagnostics in SP2 now interprets current network conditions when implementing Windows scaling. This feature includes full netsh support.
• SP2 improves Windows Media Center (WMC) in the area of content protection for TV.
• SP2 removes the limit of 10 half open outbound TCP connections. By default, SP2 has no limit on the number of half open outbound TCP connections.

SP2 also includes a Service Pack Clean-up tool (Compcln.exe) which helps recover the hard disk space by permanently deleting previous versions of files (RTM and SP1) that are being serviced by SP2. The Service Pack Clean up tool can also be run offline while creating slipstream images to reduce the size of the image.

Windows Vista SP2 is a significant update that further improves the end user experiences and technologies built into the OS, while also showing Microsoft’s commitment to always improve Windows.

Resources:

Download Windows Vista SP2 32 bit HERE
Download Windows Vista SP2 64 bit HERE
Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB955430)
Update for Windows Vista (KB955430)

Related:

My Early Preview of Windows Vista SP1 BETA

Resources:

Previously released compatibility updates
Hotfixes and Security Updates in Windows Server 2008 SP2 and Windows Vista SP2
Up Next: Windows Vista SP2
Windows Vista Year in Review
Information about Windows Vista Service Pack 1

On the eve of the Computex, the largest computer exhibition in Asia and the second largest in the world, we got word that PC World, the largest electronics retailer in the UK, is de-assorting (i.e., getting rid of) all of the Linux small notebook PCs in their stores and going all-Windows. It’s pretty big news from across the pond that they’re making this move, but what’s even more important is the “why” behind the decision.

In April I wrote about why Windows market share on small notebook PCs has jumped from under 10% in February 2008 to 96% a year later (that number has increased since then...more on that below), and PC World agrees with our thinking. You can read the entire PC World press release, but to save you some time, I’ve pulled out the key points:

1. PC World is removing Linux small notebook PCs and going all-Windows in their stores in response to customer demand. They want Windows because it’s the only OS that gives people the choice, compatibility, familiarity and simplicity they need.
2. Most consumers today are looking for a small notebook PC in the 10” range because it offers a great combination of portability and usability (as in, it’s small enough to take anywhere, but big enough to work on comfortably).
3. The last year has shown that small notebook PCs are NOT replacement PCs; rather, they’re companion PCs that consumers use to get a full PC experience on the go.
4. Windows 7 will make small notebook PCs even more compelling and more attractive to consumers because it makes connecting with other PCs, working with documents, and enjoying pictures, music and movies easier than ever before.

Jeremy Fennell, Category Director at PC World, sums things up perfectly at the end of the release:

Despite initial hype that netbooks would move more users onto the Linux platform, Microsoft has emerged as the preferred operating system because Windows makes it easier to share content, and provides customers with a simpler, more familiar computing experience on the move. Based on this insight, all the netbooks in our stores will feature Microsoft Windows, larger screens and keyboards, and greater colour choices to satisfy customers demand for performance, design and familiarity.

Customers demanding Windows for its ease of use, compatibility and simplicity isn’t unique to the UK – it’s happening here as well. The latest data from NPD’s retail tracking service showed that Windows now account for a whopping 98% of all small notebook PCs sales at retail in the US.

I think it’s important to note that all of this momentum is happening before Windows 7 is even out! When Windows 7 does arrive (and brings slick new stuff like HomeGroup, Aero Peek/Snap, PlayTo and Remote Media Streaming, Windows Media Center that lets you watch and record TV, and more), I think the demand for Windows on these devices will increase even more. What do you think?